Be a Water Super Hero! How to Conserve Water in the Garden!

It was nice to finally see some sunshine this week! And the mercury is only set to rise with summer only weeks away. Now is a good time to develop some healthy ‘water saving ‘ habits around the garden.  Waste not want not!

· 1) Plan your Plants!

Choose water efficient plants that have adapted to warmer climates. They often will not require any more water that what nature provides.

Group plants together in terms of how much water they use up. This is also referred to as ‘hydrozoning’ .It ensures that plants receive the correct amount of water.

· 2) Mulch

“The best time-saving measure a gardener can take is applying mulch” (Organic Gardening).  Every part of your garden will benefit  from mulch- veggie patches, flowers beds and every other part in between. Aside from keeping areas weed and pest free, mulch has the added benefit of making plants more drought-resistant as it prevents water evaporation.

· 3) Aerate the Lawn

If your lawn receives a lot of traffic, then the chances are that the soil underneath has become compacted. This can prevent the absorption of essential nutrients and water.  Spring is a good time to start aerating as it gives the lawn time to heal before summer.  

Remove any debris from the lawn and mow it. Then poke holes in the lawn about 10cm deep and about 20cm apart. Apply a thin, even layer of top dressing and then, voila!  


· 4) Warm Season Grass

Native, ‘warm season’  grasses are best for our tropical climate. Buffalo, Kikuyu and Couch are common in NSW.  They require less water than ryegrass or meadow grass, which are common in the US and UK.  Be careful not to cut your grass too short in summer.  The grass tips can provide some shade to the shallow soil underneath.

· 5) When and How to water

It is best to water your plants and lawn early in the morning or else later in the afternoon.  The sun is at its highest and warmest at midday, so by watering at this time, most of the precious water will evaporate into the air, leaving your thirsty plants needing more.

Trigger operated nozzle head hoses and watering cans are the most efficient. This targeted watering allows you to water deeply at the roots, as opposed to just spraying water everywhere. Sprinklers, although convenient, tend to be wasteful.  Nozzle heads that create a mist also tend to waste more water as it gets carried away in the wind.  

· 6) Collect Water

A water tank is a way of saving water for an ‘unrainy’ day. Check with your local council before installing of course!

Instead of throwing unused  water from boiling vegetables down the sink, why not use it as a fertiliser. It is filled with nutrients that your garden will love

Sources: Water Corporation, Organic Gardening

A Beginners Guide to Plant Propagation.

Plant Propagation is the creating of new plants.  Plants are naturally dispersed through wind and insects, but they can be also be artificially propagated.  Today we are going to look at two methods- stem cuttings and germinating dormant seeds.  Propagation is a cost effective and rewarding way to watch your garden grow.

Stem Cuttings (Vegetative Method) :

This is probably the method most of us are familiar with. It involves getting clippings from plants that are already in your garden. Its brilliant because a) you already know the plant will thrive in your garden and b) its free! By cutting from existing plants, you are making an exact genetic replica.

There are three types of cuttings, depending on the time of the year- softwood (Spring) , semi-hardwood (mid-summer)  and hardwood (end of summer) .  

·         Always choose a stem without any flowering buds. The flowers will use up too much energy  and your cutting will not thrive.

·         Cut just below where a leaf meets the stem, called the node.  The size of the cutting will vary from species to species. As a rule of thumb, try and cut a piece about 3” long and with a least 3 nodes on it.  

·         If you wish, you can dip the end of the cutting in a growth hormone. Did you know that honey is an organic option for root growth hormones? Make a mixture of raw honey and willow water, in a ratio of 1:3.

·         Place the cuttings in some potting mix.  It’s best to place the cuttings in one pot together, rather than in individual pots. Having the cuttings clustered together increases the chances of roots forming. It’s easier to do this if you have made insertions in the potting mix first with a pencil.

·         Cut the top  off a plastic drink bottle and place it on top of the pot with the cuttings. This will help to crate the desired humid conditions required for growth.  Keep the pot out of direct sunlight and in a shaded area to avoid cooking the cuttings!

·         After about 8 weeks, your cuttings should have established roots. Pull them gently from the pot. If you are met with resistance then you know that the roots are there. Transfer into larger individual  pots.



Seeds

·         Using seeds for propagation helps to create genetic diversity in your garden. The plants from seeds are never the exact same as  the parent plant.

·         Many of our native seeds, such as the Acacia, require extreme heat in order to burst. The heat of bushfires usually cracks them open and  they will remain dormant until favourable conditions for germinations are present.  You can mimic these effect at home . Safely of course.

·         Scatter some seeds across the top of some potting mix. Pour boiling water on the seeds. Cover the seeds with some potting mix and place a plastic bottle on top (as described above).

·         After about 8 weeks, your cuttings should have established roots. Pull them gently from the pot. If you are met with resistance then you know that the roots are there. Transfer into larger individual  pots.

Sources: ABC, SGA (Sustainable Gardening Australia)

How to Give your Garden or Terrace a Block Inspired Makeover

As we wait with baited breath for reveal of The Block Glasshouse terraced areas, we take a look back at some of the best garden features from past contestants. Here are our two  favourites, a vertical garden and a hanging herb garden, along with some simple, cost-effective tips on how to re-create a similar look yourself.

Alisa and Lysandra’s Vertical Gardens

Not only are vertical gardens extremely eye-catching, they also are a wonderful way to add a bit of green into a small space. 



















DIY:  If you are new to  the idea of vertical garden and want to test the water first, why not start by using a 1m x 1m pallet (yes pallet) as your frame.

• Ensure that it has been well scrubbed down before you start. 
• Sand and varnish. A shade of darker varnish gives a classy look to your pallet. Remember, it will be covered up as soon as the plants grow.  So think about how much/little of the pallet you would like exposed before you plant.
• Cover the back of the pallet with some landscaping paper and staple in place with a staple gun.
• Laying the pallet down flat, pour in some potting soil.  
• Native Plants such as the beautiful white and pink Hoya and the orchid like Rock Lily. Hoya is best to be used in sheltered or indoor vertical gardens.  Rock Lilies flower in spring and add depth and interesting dimension.
• Greens such as ferns work well in our humid climate. The Acacia Cognata or ‘limelight bower wattle’ will create beautiful texture and depth. It is best to leave this one until last for those important finishing touches.

Watch this video by L.A based Urban Dirt, on how to create a whole wall of vertical plant pallets

Lara and Brad’s Hanging Herb Garden

This herb garden could be integrated with your  vertical garden. Or as it is, it would easily slot into the corner of any green space.  We also love how there is an outdoor pizza oven beside the herb garden! Imagine using some fresh herbs from your garden to sprinkle on your pizza. Pizza ovens scream outdoor entertainment and make for a fun alternative to a barbeque.

DIY:  

·      Secure a timber frame to your selected wall.

·      Fill galvanised pots (or why not recycle old coffee tins)  with soil and plant your herbs of choice.

Images via Channel Nine

 








There’s still a chill in the air, but it’s official. Winter is over. Early spring is the one of busiest times of the year for gardeners. Beautiful summer gardens are thought out and created in spring. So it’s time to plan ahead. Here are some tips and tricks from the pros to help get your garden ready for summer.

1)     Plan

It’s a wonderful season for planting and growing. And for giving your garden a facelift. Before you start digging, it’s best to have thought out what your garden is going to be used for. Plan where you will plant and where you will play.  How about water features?

Think of who will be visiting your garden. Perhaps it will be frequented by kids who will want a space to play? Are you looking to attract wildlife- birds, bees and butterflies? Spring time means spring cleaning. Scrub bird baths and bird feeders to avoid mould build up. Fill bird baths regularly with clean water to avoid a scummy layer building up.

2)     Weed

September is here. And hopefully the mercury will be steadily rising. This means we can get our green fingers out of our woolly winter gloves and back into our gardening gloves.  Think of your garden as a blank canvas, and before you start work, your canvas must be cleaned. In other words, get weeding.  Garden maintenance is imperative to keep your garden healthy. 

Weeding is something that will take up more of your gardening time in spring. While many flowers and plants will prosper in the warmer weather, so too will weeds. So it is important to get root of them now before they become a problem.

Don’t forget about those nasty weeds in between your paving. They are easily spread during wet and windy weather.

3)     Fertilise

Our beautiful spring climate makes for the perfect combination of moist and heat. It is the best time of year to add some fertiliser to your plant beds to get ready for your spring planting.  Organic fertilisers are best. They help keep your garden and the environment clean.

4)     Start a compost Pile

If you don’t have one already, we recommend that you get a compost bin and start filling! By starting now, you will have your own compost ready for next spring. Add water and turn regularly. Add equal amounts of carbon-rich brown materials and nitrogen rich green materials.

5)     Rotate

If you had a veggie patch in one section of your garden, it is best to shake things up a bit. Plant something new there this year and transfer your veggie patch to another spot.  Crop rotation helps to minimise the risk of disease or pests to your plants.

6)     Prune

Pruning can be confusing. Pruning at the wrong time of the year can result in new buds been pruned with old ones. As a general rule of thumb, prune plants that flower in autumn and summer during the dormant season, which is now, i.e. early spring.  Use clean, sharpened tools.  Remove any dead stems or branches as these invite disease.

If you would like some help with your Vernal garden, get in touch. We would love to help.